By Shannon Harman Kerr, EMT-B
When you have an emergency, and you call 9-1-1, who are you calling? Calling for help may be something you imagine that you will never have to do, but, “an emergency isn’t an emergency, until it’s an emergency.” Your Tucker County Emergency Medical Services (TCEMS) providers have gone through extensive training, at any level at which they serve you. In the state of West Virginia, there are eight possible levels, three of which your TCEMS utilizes currently: Emergency Vehicle Operator (EVO), Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B), and Paramedic.
EVO’s are the individuals who focus on driving the ambulance and assisting the care provider. In order for these individuals to be allowed to serve in this role, they must be 18 years old, pass an emergency vehicle operator’s course, submit an official application to the state, pay the certification fee, complete a background check, successfully complete CPR and first aid training, possess and maintain a valid unrestricted driver’s license, complete a mass casualty awareness and operations course, complete a hazardous material (HAZMAT) awareness course, and have a clean driving record. All this must be completed before the individual can even be considered for employment, undergoing an additional interview, orientation, and probationary process before driving the ambulance.
EMT-B’s are the individuals who provide basic life support, commonly referred to as “BLS.” These individuals participate in a 150-hour course and pass a state test or a national test, which requires passing a practical (hands-on) test as well as a written test. Additionally, interested individuals must then pass an emergency vehicle operator course, submit the official application to the state, pay the fee, apply for a background check, obtain a CPR card, pass a mass casualty awareness and operations course, and pass a HAZMAT awareness course. As with the other level, all of these steps must be met before the individual applies to a specific agency for employment, which then involves the next application steps. While certified, each EMT-B is required to complete at least 24 hours or more of continuing education every two years, as well as take a 28-hour recertification course every two years.
Paramedics are individuals who provide advanced life support, referred to as “ALS.” ALS is the highest level of care provided by emergency medical services, capable of administering powerful drugs and techniques. In order for an individual to serve at this level, he or she must have already gone through the EMT-B training process. Additional, specific prerequisite courses must be passed before the individual can apply to a paramedic program. The successful completion of a paramedic education program (typically 1,200 to 1,800 hours or more of medical training) is the next hurdle. This program typically takes about one year to complete. In our neck of the woods, there are only two programs available within three hours of driving distance. Additionally, as with the other levels, the emergency vehicle operator course must be passed, the official application must be submitted to the state, the fee must be paid, a background check must be completed, a CPR card must be obtained, a mass casualty awareness and operations course or higher must be completed, a HAZMAT awareness course must be completed, and a practical and written exam must be passed that meets national standards.
The take-away from all this information is simply: the people who work for TCEMS really WANT to do this job. They have gone through a lot, before they even applied to work for the agency. Tucker County presents unique challenges for EMS providers, but each and every one of us at TCEMS has gone through a significant amount of training and preparation to serve you.
